Happy Halloween!

Samantha would like to wish the loyal readers of amy-n.blogspot.com a very Happy Halloween! May your treats be many and your tricks be few!

Happy Birthday, Wawa!

Samantha had a very big day yesterday. We decided to surprise Wawa at school since it was her birthday. She put on a show for the kids!! Not too long after the picture below was taken, she had a HUGE spit up and all of the kids went "eeewwwwwwwww!" Samantha just laughed. One of Connie's students suggested that she enter her in a cute babies contest currently running on a local radio station. Another suggested she would be a shoo-in if there was a throw up contest. The kids asked if I could bring her back, mainly, I think, because it got them out of a little bit of classwork.


After school, we went to Wawa's and Papaw's house to celebrate by eating carrots and opening presents and cards before heading to Aubreys. Samantha loved loved loved her carrots. Maybe she is a little bit me after all! She ate the sweet potatoes, but she literally lunged for the carrots. It will break my heart to give her peas. A good time was had by all, especially the birthday girl.

Ready to party!

Way better than sweet potatoes.

Samantha gave Connie a picture frame made by me ... upside down. Isn't it the thought that counts?? Jerry said it just proves I'm becoming a Noland.

"Can't we go to Aubrey's now people? I am so bored!"

Just another Manic Monday

We had a nice weekend, despite the obvious. Mom and Dad were in town for the Bama game, and Samantha always loves having her Big Guy and Grammy around. In hindsight, they wish they had stayed home with her rather than trekking to Neyland. Steve and I didn't even bother to venture to the game ... its the first Tennessee/Bama home game Steve has missed since 1984. I use "miss" loosely - he didn't miss much.

Obviously stressed by the Vols lackluster performance, sweet Samantha woke up this morning with a rash on her back. It necessitated our first "sick visit" to the doctor. Dr. Herron said its either the sweet potatoes or something she wore, but not to worry about it. It should run its course in a day or so, and it isn't bothering her at all. I'm pretty sure its something she wore ... I'm told food allergies result in an all-over rash. Samantha's is not bad. We took a break from the taters tonight but will try them again tomorrow. If the rash comes back, we'll know to take them out of her repertoire. I should send Phil our medical bills, including pain and suffering, while he is still gainfully employed.

So happy to be hanging with Big Guy and Grammy!

Maybe she liked the taters more than I thought - tonight, given the choice of rice or her high chair toy, she chose the latter.

Steve tries to figure out what the big deal is.

Happy 6 months, Samantha!

Our Sweet Pea turned 6 months old Thursday ... it is so hard for me to believe! We got a great report from the doctor, and she reacted much better to her shots this time around. Someone told me to give her a bottle right afterwards. It worked like a charm! So here's the lowdown - She weighs 16 pounds 5 ounces (58%) and is 26 1/2 inches long (77%). Her melon is now in the 97th percentile!

Dr. Herron says she is doing great. Another big development is the go ahead to start veggies. She loves her rice cereal, so we had high hopes with the sweet potatoes. Since Mom and Dad are in town for the Bama game, all grandparents were on deck for the big taste test and the 6 month birthday party. I don't think she was too thrilled.

"Hey! That's not rice cereal!"

"Please don't make me eat more!"

"Dang it! They got me again!"

"Maybe if I spit it out they won't notice."

"Thank goodness. Something to wash this mess down with. But they're crazy if they think I'll hold it myself. As if!"

"This looks much better."

"Yes, definately much better than sweet potatoes. You know what would go great with it? Formula!"

Fall Creek Falls

When you get way behind in scrapbooking, they say its best to start where you are and go back to finish what you skipped. Since I am woefully behind in blogging Samantha's recent whirlwind of activity, I'll start with our wonderful weekend at Fall Creek Falls and fill in our trip to Big Guy and Grammy's later.

As you may know, the Noland clan is small. We all fit around one table at Thanksgiving! For several years now, we have been invited to tag along on the Morello family (Mike and Karen Morello are Jerry and Connie's best friends) get together in Fall Creek Falls. We always have such a great time!! They have graciously adopted us as their own for at least one weekend out of every year. We get a group of cabins by the lake, and eat, play golf, eat, play cards, eat, hike, eat, explore the craft shops, etc. They truly are a wonderful, loving family and we always look forward to catching up.

This year we were proud to show off our latest addition! It's hard to believe, but at last years trip, which was in August, I had just had my IUI's and we were waiting to find out if I was pregnant. How excited we were for the Morello's to meet Samantha and know that their prayers for our family were heard and answered!

Samantha's first "deer" sighting ... in the craft store.

So happy to be back in Daddy's arms!

On our deck at sunset.

Family photo - we took the same exact photo last year, only Samantha was a tiny seed in my belly! How far we have come!

Checking out the leaves.

The whole crew ... 4 Nolands (Steve was the photographer) and the Morellos.

Samantha enjoying our hike ... she slept through half of it.

Family photo ... Samantha is still asleep.

Another family photo ... she finally woke up!

Daddy's girl!

Greetings from Jackson

Greetings to everyone from the flatlands of West Tennessee!! Samantha and I are having a grand time, though she misses her Daddy terribly. We are keeping quite busy. Saturday we went to the Green Acres Pumpkin Patch in Milan, which Samantha loved. Afterwards, we had lunch at the Cafe Medina. Samantha then watched the ballgame with her Big Guy while Mommy and Grammy shopped. Sunday, after sleeping through Big Guy's entire Sunday School lesson, we packed up and headed to Collierville to play with Anna Grace and Garner. Today we spent the day with Memaw at her new home at Sugar Creek Assisted Living Center. Samantha was a hit in the lunch room!

I'm having some problems with my camera card, so I'll try to post more pictures later. For now, here are some pics of our day at Uncle Russ and Aunt Amy's. The girls are really sweet together. They're still trying to feel each other out, I think. Here are some photos from the day...

"Look Anna Grace! I have 2 feet!"

"Hey Samantha! I have 2 feet, too!"

With her "oogly eye monster" - a happy from Aunt Amy and Anna Grace.

The pumpkin hat was a bit too small for her 90th percentile melon.

Me meeting Garner, the newest addition to the family.

A VERY happy Big Guy with his 2 girls.

The best attempt at a family photo shoot.

I'm Goin to Jackson

Samantha was so excited when I told her we would be heading to Jackson for a week to visit Mommy's family. She can't wait to see Big Guy, Grammy, Gran, Grandaddy, Memaw, Aunt Teddie, Aunt Amy, Uncle Russ, Anna Grace and Garner. We'll be heading out in the morning while Daddy goes to Alabama for a golf weekend with some friends. She does great in the car, but I still have a touch of nerves about doing 300 miles just the two of us. I would appreciate anyone who wants to say a quick prayer for safe travel (and sanity) for all of us!! We'll be posting some photos of Samantha's big visit very soon.

The Many Faces of Rice Cereal

It seems like we had a post-beach lull on our picture taking. But 2 very important things have happened in the past week that have prompted me to get the camera back within arms reach. One, our sweet Samantha has turned into a bit of a ham. She actually smiles for the camera now, though the red-eye light usually freaks her out before the picture snaps. I need to figure out how to change our settings. Two, she is up to 2-a-days on the rice cereal to get her ready for fruits and veggies in a few weeks. There is nothing cuter in the world than an already adorable baby (at least I think so) covered in rice. I'll give her this, she has fun when she eats. It appears she will enjoy food as much as her Mommy and Daddy, bless her heart. By the way, 3 of the 4 pictures were taken at different feedings. I should've bought stock in Bounty.

Ahoy Matey!

S.S. Sunsmart with First Mate Mommy

Come Sail Away

It took us a little bit, but we finally got the videos up of Samantha's first boat ride. She had a blast! To quote Uncle Brandon, "she looks like Baby Moses". Enjoy!